“Around 18 000 people die each day as a result of air pollution. In fact, the number of deaths attributed to air pollution each year–6.5 million deaths–is, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), much greater than the number from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and road injuries combined. Air pollution also brings major costs to the economy and damage to the environment. Energy production and use is the most important source of air pollution coming from human activity and so, for these reasons, the IEA has–for the first time–undertaken a major study on the role of energy in air pollution. This study–released as a World Energy Outlook (WEO) Special Report–reflects the IEA’s new vision. An IEA that is truly international in its outlook must tackle the issues of greatest concern to developing, as well as developed, countries. No country can claim to have fully overcome the air pollution challenge, and the IEA is uniquely placed to bring decision makers together and provide evidence-based analysis and policy advice. In establishing itself as a global hub for clean and efficient energy, the IEA is seeking to help all countries of the world overcome the negative environmental impacts of energy use.”